Tag: algorithm

Though the all-knowing algorithm remains under lock and key, Google’s Search Quality Guidelines were released less than 6 months ago. A cursory reading of these guidelines shows that Google now gives primacy to content written with higher levels of expertise. In short, the internet’s most powerful force is now behind skillful, authoritative writing that helps people more easily find the information they want. This is especially true in sensitive areas like medicine, finance, and healthcare, where the stakes for misinformation are higher.

More Expert Content

This is great news for us as internet users because we’re exposed to better and better content from more qualified sources. But no dynamic change is without resistance. Content farms—known for paying writers measly sums to generate loads of chiefly insufferable material—were undermined greatly by this change. It was also met with ire by flimsy organizations like Anti-Vaccine Movement, The Flat Earth Society, and Ken Ham’s Creation Museum, all of which claimed their voices were being stifled. Yet overall, Google’s new guidelines make for a better web experience with more respected voices now separated from the masses of chaff.

Lousy Content Brings Lousy Results

These changes confirm what Red Letter Marketing has stood for all along: valuable content that makes a difference for target audiences. There is still a plethora of false prophets in this territory, ready to sell you cheap and easy solutions to content marketing. Some have even recommended hiring a college student on the cheap to churn out blogs to keep your website content fresh. But the fact is, this won’t work, and is even less viable now than when it actually had some—albeit slight—impact.

The New Standard

Though more vital in fields like finance and healthcare, no industry is exempt from Google’s new E-A-T standard. This is the acronym for Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness. If you’re looking for information on air movement, Google is more likely to drive you to reputable sources like Dyson, Boeing, or Big Ass Fans. Though each of these companies operate in distinct industries, they have expertise in the realm of air flow.

Offering Valuable Content, Interestingly

What’s the lesson in all of this? Chiefly, you need to have an expert writer to produce your content, especially if content marketing is a main artery in your business development strategy. But industry expertise alone won’t cut it. You need to present that information in a way that inspires engagement. Hierarchy of information, scanability, and relevance all become significant elements in the presentation of content. You need to keep a reader interested, even excited about the content. Valuable information that’s poorly presented will drive visitors away faster than a toupee in a hurricane. It’s vital to keep your readers… well—reading. They want to leave the page feeling that you’ve provided something useful and accessible. If you’ve succeeded, they’ll remember, and are more likely to come back. If not, they may end up at a competitor’s site.

As marketers, we take content quality seriously. To do anything less is to disrespect readers, and consequently, customers. Because Google is now reviewing websites using the E-A-T standard, your site ranking is affected by the quality of your content. If you’re wondering how to create effective content marketing that gets the attention of both Google and customers, let’s talk.